SoCal music & dance, Nov. 12-19: 'Frida y Diego,' the California Festival and more
SoCal music & dance, Nov. 12-19: 'Frida y Diego,' the California Festival and more
Classical, opera, jazz, folk, pop, rock, ballet, tap, contemporary dance and more for LA & OC
Welcome to the latest TV or Not TV newsletter spotlighting live music and dance performances all around Southern California this coming week. I’m Matt Cooper, former listings coordinator for the LA Times’ Calendar section.
• Classical & opera
‘The Barber of Seville’ Figaro is up to his old tricks in LA Opera’s presentation of Rossini’s classic rom-com. With baritone Joshua Hopkins. Sung in Italian with English supertitles. Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. Closes 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12. $24 and up. laopera.org
Camerata Pacifica Chamber music by Brahms, Ginastera and Paul Dean; presented as part of California Festival. Scherr Forum Theatre, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12. $80. (805) 884-8410. cameratapacifica.org
James McVinnie The British organist plays works by Bach and Philip Glass; part of the California Festival. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12. $20-$64. laphil.com
‘Pathways: Koh + Kahane’ Conductor laureate Jeffrey Kahane returns to lead Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra in Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 3, “Scottish”; C.P.E. Bach’s Symphonia in D; and the world premiere of Nina C. Young’s violin concerto “Traces” featuring violinist Jennifer Koh; part of the California Festival. Royce Hall, UCLA, 340 Royce Drive, Westwood. 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12. $32-$142. (213) 221-3920. laco.org
Vieness Piano Duo Pianists Vijay Venkatesh and Eva Schaumkell play pieces by Bach, Rachmaninoff, Shostakovich, et al. Private residence, address provided to ticket holders, L.A. 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12. $35-$75. dacamerasociety.org
‘Chaparral and Interstates’ The LA Phil New Music Group presents works by California composers Dylan Mattingly, Samuel Adams, Reena Esmail and M.A. Tiesenga. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 14. $20-$66. laphil.com
‘Fragments 2’ Acclaimed cellist Alisa Weilerstein performs Bach’s Cello Suites along with recently commissioned compositions in this multimedia-enhanced presentation; part of the California Festival. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15. $20-$129. laphil.com
‘California Dreamin’ ’ Pianist Vadym Kholodenko joins guest conductor Ludovic Morlot and Pacific Symphony for Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 4; program also includes Adam Schoenberg’s “Canto” and Debussy’s “La Mer”; part of the California Festival. Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 16-18. $25-$225. pacificsymphony.org
‘Dudamel and the Music of Tango and Ballet’ The LA Phil joins forces with the Los Angeles Master Chorale and violinist Leticia Moreno for a program that includes Astor Piazzolla’s “Four Seasons of Buenos Aires” and a world premiere by composer Gabriela Ortiz; part of the California Festival. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 19. $30-$229. laphil.com
‘Moby Dick; or, The Whale’ Monday Evening Concerts opens its season with the L.A. premiere of Wu Tsang and Moved by the Motion's 2022 silent-film adaptation of Melville’s classic American novel, featuring a score by Caroline Shaw and Andrew Yee with Asma Maroo, to be performed live by ensemble-in-residence Echoi. Hauser & Wirth, 901 E. 3rd St., Arts District, downtown L.A. 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 16-18. $15. mondayeveningconcerts.org
‘Scalia/Ginsburg’ and ‘Trial By Jury’ Pacific Opera Project pairs the L.A. premiere of Derrick Wang’s one-act musical comedy, about the unlikely friendship between the two Supreme Court justices, with an updated version of the Gilbert & Sullivan one-act featuring a new libretto by artistic director Josh Shaw. Highland Park Ebell Club, 131 S. Ave 57, Highland Park. 7 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays, Nov. 17 thru Nov. 26. $85-$220. pacificoperaproject.com
Takács Quartet The acclaimed ensemble plays pieces by Beethoven, Haydn and violist and composer Nokuthula Ngwenyama. The Broad Stage, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17. $50 and up. (310) 434-3200. broadstage.org
‘Bernstein’ Maestro Eckart Preu and Long Beach Symphony are joined by dancers from Long Beach Ballet for Bernstein’s “Fancy Free” and by violinist Kala Ramnath for Reena Esmail’s Hindustani Violin Concerto; program also includes Stravinsky’s “Pulcinella” Suite and Joplin’s “Treemonisha” Overture; part of the California Festival. Long Beach Terrace Theater, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach. 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18. $32-$114. (562) 436-3203. longbeachsymphony.org
‘Disney in Concert: The Sound of Magic’ New West Symphony and special guest Gaby Moreno take part in this centennial salute to the storied film studio. The Soraya, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge. 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18. $31-$101. (818) 677-3000. thesoraya.org
‘El último sueño de Frida y Diego (The Last Dream of Frida and Diego)’ Los Angeles Opera presents the company premiere of composer Gabriela Lena Frank and librettist Nilo Cruz’s fanatical musical fable about iconic Mexican artists and tempestuous lovers Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera; Lina González-Granados conducts; in Spanish with English and Spanish supertitles. Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18; 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26; 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 30; 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3; 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 6 and Saturday, Dec. 9. $16 and up. (213) 972-8001. laopera.org
‘40!’ The Verdi Chorus marks four decades with a special anniversary program featuring selections by its namesake, plus works by Mascagni and Saint Saëns. First Presbyterian Church, 1220 2nd St., Santa Monica. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18; 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 19. $10-$50. verdichorus.org
‘Lux: The Music of Morten Lauridsen & Billy Childs’ The Los Angeles Master Chorale, led by artistic director Grant Gershon, revisits Lauridsen’s beloved 1997 work “Lux Aeterna” and is joined by the Billy Childs Jazz Chamber Ensemble, the Lyris Quartet and violinist Anne Akiko Meyers for the wprld premiere of Childs’ “In the Arms of the Beloved.” Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18; 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 19. $45-$159. (213) 972-7282. lamasterchorale.org
‘Paris in Pasadena — Joy of Chamber Music’ The 3rd@1st Concert Series presents a program of French songs plus pieces by Fauré and Debussy. First United Methodist Church, 500. E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18. Free. (626) 796-0157. thirdatfirst.org
‘Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini’ Pianist Natasha Paremski joins guest conductor Ward Stare and Pasadena Symphony for the Rachmaninoff favorite; program also includes Elgar’s Enigma Variations and Patrick Harlin’s “Earthrise”; part of the California Festival. Ambassador Auditorium, 131 S. St. John Ave., Pasadena. 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18. $42-$137. (626) 793-7172. pasadenasymphony-pops.org
‘State of the Art’ The Hear Now Festival presents Lyris Quartet, Brightwork Ensemble, et al. in new and recent works by L.A.-based composers; part of the California Festival. Colburn School, Thayer Hall, 200 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18. $15-$25. hearnowmusicfestival.com
Restoration Concerts The New Hollywood String Quartet is joined by guest artists for pieces by Tchaikovsky and Schoenberg. South Pasadena Public Library, Community Room, 1115 El Centro St., South Pasadena. 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 19. $25 at the door. friendsofsopaslibrary.org
Tesserae Baroque The L.A. based period-instrument ensemble presents a selection of 16th century madrigals based on Giovanni Battista Guarini’s 1590 poem “Il pastor fido (The Faithfull Shepherd),” plus pieces by Monteverdi, Marenzio, et al. All Saints’ Episcopal Church, 504 N. Camden Drive, Beverly Hills. 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 19. $20-$50; children Music Guild members, free. tesseraebaroque.org
• Jazz, blues, rock, folk, world music & more
‘American Railroad: Silkroad Ensemble With Rhiannon Giddens’ The ensemble explores the impact the building of the Transcontinental Railroad had on Black, Irish, Chinese and Native American communities. The Soraya, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge. 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12. $42-$101. (818) 677-8800. thesoraya.org
‘Karim Sulayman and Sean Shibe: Broken Branches’ The Lebanese American tenor and the Scottish guitarist have a musical dialogue in this CAP UCLA presentation. The Nimoy, 1262 Westwood Blvd., Westwood. 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12. $32. (310) 825-2101. cap.ucla.edu
Queen + Adam Lambert The legendary British rock band and the former “American Idol” contestant play the hits. BMO Stadium, 3939 S, Figueroa St, Exposition Park, L.A. 8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12. $59 and up. ticketmaster.com
Symphonic Jazz Orchestra The ensemble performs a free community concert. Carpenter Performing Arts Center, 6200 E. Atherton St., Long Beach. 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12. Free. (562) 985-7000. carpenterarts.org
‘Autumn Harmony’ A trio of musical acts pay tribute to CSN&Y (8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17); the Coasters, the Drifters and the Platters (3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18); and Simon & Garfunkel (7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 19). El Portal Theatre Mainstage, 5269 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. $50-$79. (818) 508-4200. elportaltheatre.com
‘Ruben & Clay: Twenty/The Tour’ Former “American Idol” rivals Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken share the stage once again. Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 18000 Park Plaza Drive, Cerritos. 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17. $39-$89. (562) 916-8500. cerritoscenter.com
‘As We Speak’ Banjoist Béla Fleck, percussionist Zakir Hussain and bassist Edgar Meyer are joined by Indian bamboo master Rakesh Chaurasia for this cross-genre collaboration presented by CAP UCLA. The Nimoy, 1262 Westwood Blvd., Westwood. 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18. $39 and up. (310) 825-2101. cap.ucla.edu
• Dance
‘FRAGmented’ Deborah Rosen and Dancers and guest artist Wendy Andronika Samuels present new works by choreographers Jamie Nichols and José Argueta. ARC Pasadena, 158 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12. 2:00 pm. $20, $25. facebook.com/DeborahandDancers
‘Malavika Sarukkai Anubandh — Connectedness’ The eminent Indian classical dancer and choreographer presents a new solo work. Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine. 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18. $60-$75. thebarclay.org